Hunter Smith Adds Twist to Scoreboardgate

[speedkilz88]

Well, Andy Lee is coming to town. He's a probowl punter that doesn't need to make a name for himself. He claims he won't be trying to hit it during the game,---but he might try in warmups.

 

[Cowboys22]

I would like a definitive answer to this question: Are there in fact a large number of seats in the prime sections that have an overhang and would not be able to see all or a portion of the board if it is raised more than a few feet?


If the answer is yes, then the board isn't going anywhere. If it can be raised without any negative impact on viewing, then go ahead and do it. If there are negatives to raising it, tell the league to deal with it and file a lawsuit. There's no way a lawsuit will be complete by week one so they will have to come up with some other option to start the season.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I have already found this whole scoreboard "drama" annoying.

But at the same time I have to look at the silver lining in it...at least it is something as silly as a scoreboard and not something like a PacMan getting in a fight or a TO saying this or that or some other player getting arrested for DUI and so on.

Still annoying though.

 

[ndanger]

I'm in favor of the next person who calls it a scoreboard has to move it by themselves and sell lemonade in the parking areas for 10 cents a cup to pay for it. All those in favor say aye.

 

[DallasFanSince86]

I'm in favor of the next person who calls it a scoreboard has to move it by themselves and sell lemonade in the parking areas for 10 cents a cup to pay for it. All those in favor say aye.

Aye..

 

[NextGenBoys]

It isn't a scoreboard. I wonder how long it will take before the media grasps that in their mad dash to put out a candle fire with gasoline.

Which I think is freaking ridiculous that its just a huge HDTV

Where is the scoreboard then?

 

[jzcowboy]

An email conversation I just had with the article's author, Matt Snyder:

On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 8:28 AM, Jason Zaleski <mudhenfootball@yahoo.com> wrote:

In the article you state, "The Cowboys' scoreboards are too low. It's their fault and nothing changes that."

1.) Its not their fault and I have no idea why you would say that. The NFL inspected the plans prior to the stadium construction and signed off on them. The Cowboys further decided to go an additional 5 feet above the NFL's recommendations.

2.) Its not a scoreboard, those are located around the walls of the stadium.
​

Thanks. I altered some of the wording. I hope you don't think I was being a typical "Cowboys hater." I just was quickly passing along the Hunter Smith part, because I'm the Colts blogger. I really was trying to take Polian to task more than anyone. I should have been more responsible with my wording on the Cowboys front, though.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Cowboy fans need to get over the persecution complex ... Jerry is loving this. In Jerry's mind the worst thing that could have happened last weekend was for the stadium to unveil under the radar. Jerry's absolutely loving the fact that his new stadium unveiling is the talk of the sports media world this week, with his beloved HDTV piece de resistance at the epicenter.

 

[Hostile]

Which I think is freaking ridiculous that its just a huge HDTV

Where is the scoreboard then?

There are 4 of them, one in each corner of the stadium.

 

[jimmy40]

this story is just stupid. I believe Jerry left it at that height knowing someone would hit it causing it to get more publicity. just raise the stupid screen already.

DIng Ding Ding. Did you see how Jerry and his son were laughing when the board was getting hit during warmups? Jerry's a genius.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

An email conversation I just had with the article's author, Matt Snyder:

On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 8:28 AM, Jason Zaleski <mudhenfootball@yahoo.com> wrote:

In the article you state, "The Cowboys' scoreboards are too low. It's their fault and nothing changes that."​

1.) Its not their fault and I have no idea why you would say that. The NFL inspected the plans prior to the stadium construction and signed off on them. The Cowboys further decided to go an additional 5 feet above the NFL's recommendations.​

2.) Its not a scoreboard, those are located around the walls of the stadium.​

Thanks. I altered some of the wording. I hope you don't think I was being a typical "Cowboys hater." I just was quickly passing along the Hunter Smith part, because I'm the Colts blogger. I really was trying to take Polian to task more than anyone. I should have been more responsible with my wording on the Cowboys front, though.

Way to go, jz.

 

[jzcowboy]

Way to go, jz.

I just wanted to point out to all of you that writers will "alter" thier article's to match whatever point they're trying to make. My dad has been a sports writer for over 30 years now and he and I have spoken about this before. He does not "alter" his work, but unfortunately he's one of the few. I think when we all read something, it needs to be understood that it is most likely not fact and that needs to be accepted because it won't change. Editors don't care about facts, just readership.

 

[JPM]

There are so many levels to this tale. Intrigue, power, greed, corruption, sex....this story has it all.

It's like a Spanish soap. Telemundo FTW !

 

[speedkilz88]

Jimmy Johnson was just on Mike and Mike and said leave it alone. It's beautiful right where it is. Punters can kick at an angle and if it happens to hit it once or twice every couple of games just redo it. He also said that he called Janice Joplin "beatweed" and she hated the jocks.

 

[Ren]

Hunter Smith Adds Twist to Scoreboardgate
Posted Aug 26, 2009 3:10PM By Matt Snyder (RSS feed)

Scoreboardgate, originating in the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium, has taken another turn. Remember, the Cowboys debuted in their new digs this past weekend. Everything about the stadium is extravagant, and we'd expect nothing less in a Jerry Jones operation. The only problem thus far is that there are massive scoreboards over the center of the stadium that are able to be hit by punted balls.

Earlier this week, Colts president Bill Polian revealed the Colts avoided the same issues in their one-year-old Lucas Oil Stadium by having Hunter Smith -- then the Colts' punter, though he now plays for the Commanders -- punt balls high up into the air. They decided to put their boards on side walls instead of overhead. Now, Smith is disputing Polian's claims, via Matt Terl of Commanders Blog:
[Terl]: "Okay, so you were the guy who tested the--"

Smith: "No."

[Terl]: "No?"

Smith: "No."

[Terl]: "That's incorrect?"

Smith: "That is incorrect. I have been getting phone calls, emails, everything from people about this story. I never did that. I don't remember ever doing that. I can tell you with integrity that I have never punted a ball over a bar or had them measure how high it went."

Smith shrugged. "Now, they could've done it with a camp leg we had, I guess, but ... I never did that. I guess he had me mixed up with someone else, or they planned on doing it, or he just forgot."

Terl also made sure to point out that Smith apologized for potentially ruining Polian's story. It's an illustration of how good a guy Smith is.

No real apology is necessary, though, because, frankly, it doesn't really matter. The Cowboys' scoreboards are too low. It's their fault and nothing changes that.

There's no reason for Polian to go around pontificating about how smart the Colts were before unveiling their new palace. We now know the story didn't happen as he said it did anyway. As Smith said, there could have been a second punter on the grassy knoll or Polian could just be accidentally performing revisionist history in his own mind.

In related news, the Cowboys' scoreboards are still too low.

Not according to league specifications it's not, who's fault is that? The Cowboys for playing by the rules or the NFL for having outdated rules?

 

[BHendri5]

Why, raise it? It is 5 freaking feet higher than the NFL requirements. He does not need to raise it.
Our own punter has said that you have to be trying to hit it, to hit it.
I always thought that the punters were job was to put the other team as deep as they could into their own territory.

Punt for distance not height.

 

[DallasEast]

Jimmy Johnson was just on Mike and Mike and said leave it alone. It's beautiful right where it is. Punters can kick at an angle and if it happens to hit it once or twice every couple of games just redo it. He also said that he called Janice Joplin "beatweed" and she hated the jocks.

[Edit] He added that he doubted punters would hit the videoboard during the regular season because they typically punt for distance, not height. He also stated that he believed that Trapasso was intentionally trying to hit the videoboard and was basically kicking straight up at it.

Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson agreeing on something. Wow.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Jimmy Johnson was just on Mike and Mike and said leave it alone. It's beautiful right where it is. Punters can kick at an angle and if it happens to hit it once or twice every couple of games just redo it. He also said that he called Janice Joplin "beatweed" and she hated the jocks.

Jimmy has spoken. 'Nuff said.

 

[jimmy40]

Why, raise it? It is 5 freaking feet higher than the NFL requirements. He does not need to raise it.
Our own punter has said that you have to be trying to hit it, to hit it.
I always thought that the punters were job was to put the other team as deep as they could into their own territory.

Punt for distance not height.

A couple of those punts in warmups would have hit it if it was 15-20 feet higher, might as well leave it alone.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

FWIW... Jimmy Johnson is on 105.3 right now and he says the board is fine and doesn't need to be moved. Thinks the Titans punter hit it on purpose and more punters won't do that in the future because it'll only tire out the coverage team.

BTW, hope they podcast this. Pretty good (and rare) to hear from Jimmy.

Wow, didn't even see speed had posted that about Jimmy on Mike and Mike. Guess JJ's making the rounds for his Crown Royal campaign. He's in town filming a spot for them at the stadium today.